Start your new year off right with a hike in Georgia’s Rome. Here is a list of great locations!
1. First Day Hike – Hike into the New Year
Start the New Year off right by taking part in the First Day Hike at Lock & Dam Park and Campground. Gather at the Coosa River Trading Post for a self-led hike at Noon. Friendly dogs on leashes are welcome (please clean-up after your pet). The park offers two great trails for hikers to explore. One trail goes along the Coosa River and through the primitive campground and Coosa River Nature Preserve. The second trail allows hikers to explore a geocaching site on upgraded trails. Enjoy a post-hike hot dog lunch. $5 per hiker. Held rain or shine!
2. Jackson Hill
Jackson Hill provides winding trails and a quiet getaway just blocks from Downtown Rome. Outdoor exhibits include the Boswell Cabin Trailhead, a cotton gin, replicas of Civil War-era cannons, the Noble Brothers Foundry Lathe and a Corliss Steam Engine. TRED is hosting a first day 2-mile hike at 10 am. Download the map
3. Berry College Trails
The Viking Trail is a three-mile paved trail for walkers, runners, cyclists and roller bladers. It runs between the main campus and the mountain campus. For a higher elevation and scenic trail, hike the 4.8 miles (out and back) to House O’Dreams.
4. Garrard Park
Tread 7 miles of trails at this park built and designed for mountain biking and walking. View trail maps
5. Myrtle Hill Cemetery Tree Tour
Discover over 35 different species of trees in this self-guided tree tour of Rome’s Historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery. Many trees are rare and not native to the Northwest Georgia Area. The trees are also recognized by the Georgia Urban Forest Council in the Landmark and Historic Tree Register. Download the Myrtle Hill Cemetery Tree Tour map and start your tour today!
6. Mt. Berry Trail
One of the newer sections of the AdventHealth ECO Greenway, this paved trail follows the Oostanaula River with views of rolling hills, farmland and wildlife. This trail is flat and paved, so it’s not technically a hike, but perfect for a first year jog, bike or walk! The 3.6 round trip is part of a phased trail plan that will eventually make the ECO Greenway a full loop in mid-2023!
7. Marshall Forest
Marshall Forest was the first National Natural Landmark in Georgia, designed by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1966. Explore two nature trails (one trail is a complete ADA Braille Trail) for an easy first year hike. Easily identify plants with identification tags and stations on the trail. Learn More
8. Georgia’s Rome Outdoor Passport
Win prizes just by exploring the best of Rome’s outdoors! The Georgia’s Rome Outdoor Pass is a mobile passport that will take you to scenic trails and historic sites including a 300,000-year-old cave, a Civil War earthen fortification system and one of the world’s largest overshot waterwheels. Best of all, it’s totally free, with no apps to download. Get yours!
Looking for more outdoor fun? Check out all our Georgia’s Rome outdoor adventures!
About the Author
Our Georgia's Rome tourism team works hard to curate content to help you discover and explore our beautiful town! We want to ensure our content is up-to-date and accurate; so please let us know if we ever overlook an important detail! This post was originally written by Kristi Kent and is updated by staff.
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